Study of the Direct CO2 Carboxylation Reaction on Supported Metal Nanoparticles
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catalysts Article Study of the Direct CO2 Carboxylation Reaction on Supported Metal Nanoparticles Fabien Drault 1 , Youssef Snoussi 1, Joëlle Thuriot-Roukos 1, Ivaldo Itabaiana, Jr. 1,2 ,Sébastien Paul 1 and Robert Wojcieszak 1,* 1 Univ. Lille, CNRS, Centrale Lille, Univ. Artois, UMR 8181-UCCS-Unité de Catalyse et Chimie du Solide, F-59000 Lille, France; [email protected] (F.D.); [email protected] (Y.S.); [email protected] (J.T.-R.); [email protected] (I.I.J.); [email protected] (S.P.) 2 Department of Biochemical Engineering, School of Chemistry, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-910, Brazil * Correspondence: [email protected]; Tel.: +33-(0)320-676-008 Abstract: 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (2,5-FDCA) is a biomass derivate of high importance that is used as a building block in the synthesis of green polymers such as poly(ethylene furandicarboxylate) (PEF). PEF is presumed to be an ideal substitute for the predominant polymer in industry, the poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET). Current routes for 2,5-FDCA synthesis require 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) as a reactant, which generates undesirable co-products due to the complicated oxidation step. There- fore, direct CO2 carboxylation of furoic acid salts (FA, produced from furfural, derivate of inedible lignocellulosic biomass) to 2,5-FDCA is potentially a good alternative. Herein, we present the pri- mary results obtained on the carboxylation reaction of potassium 2-furoate (K2F) to synthesize 2,5-FDCA, using heterogeneous catalysts. An experimental setup was firstly validated, and then several operation conditions were optimized, using heterogeneous catalysts instead of the semi- Citation: Drault, F.; Snoussi, Y.; heterogeneous counterparts (molten salts). Ag/SiO2 catalyst showed interesting results regarding Thuriot-Roukos, J.; Itabaiana, I., Jr.; the K2F conversion and space–time yield of 2,5-FDCA. Paul, S.; Wojcieszak, R. Study of the Direct CO2 Carboxylation Reaction Keywords: carboxylation; metal nanoparticles; heterogeneous catalysis; FDCA; furoic acid on Supported Metal Nanoparticles. Catalysts 2021, 11, 326. https:// doi.org/10.3390/catal11030326 1. Introduction Academic Editor: Sophie Hermans Recently, the production of 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (2,5-FDCA) from biomass has awakened interest [1–9]. 2,5-FDCA is one of the most important building blocks for the Received: 14 February 2021 production of polymers, such as the poly(ethylene furandicarboxylate) (PEF), which can Accepted: 2 March 2021 replace poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET), derived from terephthalic acid (TA), a non- Published: 4 March 2021 sustainable molecule. Two main routes have been studied in the literature for the 2,5-FDCA synthesis from C6 or C5 compounds transformation. Moreover, 5-hydroxymethylfurfural Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral (HMF) oxidation to 2,5-FDCA has been widely studied, and although it has shown to with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affil- have the best catalytic results, some problems regarding 2,5-FDCA selectivity are found iations. due to the formation of unstable intermediate products [4–6,10–14]. Moreover, HMF is quite unstable and provokes serious problems during the oxidation process. In addition, HMF generally obtained from fructose need to be of very high purity. On the other hand, 2,5-FDCA synthesis from hemicellulose-derived chemicals is of great importance. Indeed, furfural could substitute HMF, as its industrial production from non-edible resources Copyright: © 2021 by the authors. is a mature process. Production of furoic acid synthesis from furfural oxidation, using Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. heterogeneous catalysts in a alkaline [15–17] or base free media [6,18], has been studied. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and Then, the C–H carboxylation of furoic acid with CO2 can form 2,5-FDCA (Figure1). This conditions of the Creative Commons reaction has shown to be more selective than that from HMF [19–21]. Attribution (CC BY) license (https:// creativecommons.org/licenses/by/ 4.0/). Catalysts 2021, 11, 326. https://doi.org/10.3390/catal11030326 https://www.mdpi.com/journal/catalysts Catalysts 2021, 11, x FOR PEER REVIEW 2 of 11 CatalystsCatalysts 20212021,, 1111,, x 326 FOR PEER REVIEW 2 2of of 11 10 Figure 1. Reactional scheme of CO2 carboxylation of furoic acid to 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (2,5- FDCA). FigureFigure 1. 1. ReactionalReactional scheme ofof COCO22carboxylation carboxylation of of furoic furoic acid acid to 2,5-furandicarboxylicto 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (2,5-FDCA)acid (2,5- . FDCA).However, the main problem in the 2,5-FDCA synthesis from furoic acid is the car- However, the main problem in the 2,5-FDCA synthesis from furoic acid is the carboxy- boxylate group insertion on hydrocarbon C-H bonds [22,23]. As C1 feedstock, CO2 pre- lateHowever, group insertion the main on hydrocarbonproblem in the C-H 2,5-FDCA bonds [22 synthesis,23]. As C1from feedstock, furoic acid CO is2 presentsthe car- sentsthermodynamic thermodynamic and kineticand kinetic limitations limitations [24]. [24] Indeed,. Indeed, in the in esterificationthe esterification of aromatic of aromatic hy- 2 boxylatehydrocarbons group with insertion CO2, aon low hydrocarbon equilibrium C-H conversion bonds [22,23]. at every As temperature C1 feedstock, is COobtained pre- sentsdrocarbons thermodynamic with CO2 ,and a low kinetic equilibrium limitations conversion [24]. Indeed, at every in the temperature esterification is obtained of aromatic [24]. [24].Consequently, Consequently, several several solutions solutions have beenhave studiedbeen studied to perform to perform the direct the direct C–H carboxylation, C–H carbox- hydrocarbons with CO2, a low equilibrium conversion at every temperature is obtained ylation,by using by a using base asa base a reagent, as a reagent, as previously as previously developed developed by Kolbe by Kolbe and Schmitt and Schmitt [25–27 [25–], a [24]. Consequently, several solutions have been studied to perform the direct C–H carbox- 27],Lewis a Lewis acid [acid28], transition[28], transition metal metal catalysts catalysts [29] and [29] enzymes and enzymes [19,30 [19,30].]. In terms In terms of mechanism, of mech- ylation, by using a base as a reagent, as previously developed by Kolbe and Schmitt [25– anism,those reagentsthose reagents could influencecould influence the mode the mode of C–H of cleavageC–H cleavage that couldthat could be an be electrophilic an electro- 27], a Lewis acid [28], transition metal catalysts [29] and enzymes [19,30]. In terms of mech- philicaromatic aromatic substitution, substitution, a C–H a deprotonationC–H deprotonation by base by orbase a C–H or a C–H oxidation oxidation and subsequentand subse- anism, those reagents could influence the mode of C–H cleavage that could be an electro- quentCO insertion. CO2 insertion. This This reaction reaction can can take take place place both both in in basic basic or or acidic acidic conditions. conditions. InIn basic philic2 aromatic substitution, a C–H deprotonation by base or a C–H oxidation and subse- media,media, the the use use of of a a strong strong base base deprotonates deprotonates the the C–H C–H group group with with the the most most acidic acidic proton, proton, quent CO2 insertion. This reaction can take place both in basic or acidic conditions. In basic whichwhich is is at at position position 5 5 in in furoic furoic acid acid (FA) (FA) [3 [311],], to form a strong nucleophilic carbon carbon atom, atom, media, the use of a strong base deprotonates the C–H group with the most acidic proton, beingbeing able able to to react react with with weakly weakly electrophilic electrophilic carbon carbon dioxide. dioxide. In acidic In acidic media, media, CO2 COis acti-is which is at position 5 in furoic acid (FA) [31], to form a strong nucleophilic carbon atom,2 vatedactivated via coordination via coordination with with a Lewis a Lewis acid, acid, leading leading to a reaction to a reaction between between the reactant the reactant and being able to react with weakly electrophilic carbon dioxide. In acidic media, CO2 is acti- theand activated the activated CO2 [32]. CO 2This[32 ].reaction This reaction can occur can at occur relatively at relatively low temperatures low temperatures but requires but vated via coordination with a Lewis acid, leading to a reaction between the reactant and highrequires CO2 highpressure, CO2 pressure,and poor andyield poor of the yield target of theproduct target is product reached is due reached to the due different to the theparalleldifferent activated reactions parallel CO2 [32].that reactions couldThis reaction thatoccur. could A can general occur. occur Aschematizationat generalrelatively schematization low of temperatures this process of this isbut illustrated process requires is highinillustrated Figure CO2 2.pressure, in Figure and2. poor yield of the target product is reached due to the different parallel reactions that could occur. A general schematization of this process is illustrated in Figure 2. FigureFigure 2. 2. PossiblePossible carboxylation carboxylation reaction reaction routes routes from from furo furoicic acid acid(FA) (FA)to 2,5-furandicarboxylic to 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA),acid (FDCA), 5-hydroxymethylfurfura 5-hydroxymethylfurfurall (HMF), (HMF), 2,5-dihydroxmethylfu 2,5-dihydroxmethylfuranran (DHMF), (DHMF), 5-hydromethyl-2- 5-hydromethyl-2- Figurefurancarboxylicfurancarboxylic 2. Possible acid acid carboxylation (HFCA), (HFCA), 2,5-diformylfuran reaction routes from (DFF) furo andic 5-formyl-2-furancarboxylic5acid-formyl-2-furancarboxylic (FA) to 2,5-furandicarboxylic acidacid (FFCA). acid (FDCA),(FFCA). 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), 2,5-dihydroxmethylfuran (DHMF), 5-hydromethyl-2- furancarboxylicIn this context, acid (HFCA), the Henkel 2,5-diformylfuran reaction of (DFF) alkaline and salts5-formyl-2-furancarboxylic of aromatic acids to acid synthesize (FFCA).symmetricalIn this context, diacids the has Henkel been reported reaction in of the alkaline literature salts [33 of,34 aromatic].